At the same time, in Marineford...
Luffy was floating midair, laughing while holding Ace's arm.
Even though he tried to suppress it, the laughter was inevitable—it was part of his Devil Fruit's awakened power.
Everyone stood in shock.
The white figure hovering in the sky had become the center of everyone's attention.
At the execution platform...
No—there was no platform anymore. It had been completely destroyed by the clash between Sengoku and Luffy.
Amid the pile of ruins, Sengoku knelt on one knee, his face twisted in fury.
"Straw Hat Luffy… you damn pirate!"
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Tsuru immediately received the highest order: cut the live broadcast signal.
She then looked up at the figure in the sky, cold sweat dripping down her face.
"Garp, don't tell me… you didn't know anything about this."
She glared at him, filled with anger.
But the man, who had always been playful even in times of crisis, now wore an extremely conflicted expression.
He had also received orders from the Five Elders.
Tsuru might not know, and the others probably couldn't understand...
But he knew the reason very well.
He knew exactly what Luffy would face from this moment on.
"Luffy..." Garp clenched his teeth, unsure of what to do.
And yet, a faint joy filled his heart.
A pirate is still a pirate... but family is different.
Even he couldn't help feeling a bit of relief and happiness upon seeing Ace rescued.
The burden of justice was far too heavy. And now that he had finally acknowledged his own heart, Garp felt... at peace.
He had never been a saint.
"Fufurfur... What kind of power is that? The Devil Fruit's awakening?"
Doflamingo was the first to recover from the shock. He shrugged, grinned, and said to the Marine beside him:
"Let them go. It'll be more entertaining this way."
Still, even amid so much chaos, the Marines hadn't forgotten their mission.
"You're distracted, Whitebeard!"
Akainu, in his magma form, erupted from the ground and struck Whitebeard directly in the chest with his flaming right fist.
Boom!!
The punch pierced through his chest, and scorching lava surged into his body.
Whitebeard, who had been distracted while gazing at the sky, groaned in pain.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, yet he was still smiling.
"Gurarara... Looks like we've won, you magma brat!"
"Hmph! Do you really think all of you can retreat safely? You pirates are doomed! The only question is... who's going to die first?"
A loud crack echoed.
Whitebeard grabbed Akainu's flaming arm, threw his naginata aside, and with a roar, delivered a devastating punch.
CRACK!
Akainu gasped, spat blood, and was sent crashing into the ground.
"Admiral Akainu!" shouted the vice admirals in the distance, stunned. "Damn monster! He still has that much strength left?!"
Whitebeard clutched his bleeding chest. For the first time, he looked visibly exhausted.
He roared:
"Straw Hat Luffy! You have my gratitude! Take Ace and get out of here now! Whitebeard Pirates, cover their escape!"
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Pops!" Ace, held by Luffy, trembled.
Whitebeard was old. Even though his offensive power remained overwhelming, his stamina and physical strength were no longer what they used to be.
In his prime, Akainu's sneak attack would never have succeeded.
"Luffy, let me go! I'm going to help him!"
"What are you saying, you idiot?"
Luffy stared at him.
At that moment, Marco the Phoenix soared above the battlefield.
"Ace's little brother!" he called out in a deep voice. "Retreat immediately! That's Pops' order! I'll protect the both of you and make sure you escape safely!"
Luffy thought: (You're underestimating me?)
"Take him. I'll catch up soon," Luffy said, throwing Ace toward Marco.
But just then, a golden beam of light burst from the ground.
Kizaru appeared in their path, preparing to kick Ace in the head.
"In that case... I'll deliver the punishment myself...!?"
A flash of white light filled his vision.
BOOM!
Kizaru was shocked to find himself blasted from the sky and slammed into the ground.
Luffy glared at him and calmly said:
"Did you really think I'd let you lay a hand on Ace?"
At that moment, he unleashed his Conqueror's Haki.
Marco flinched at the pressure. Luffy's Haki was even more intense than what he had used against Whitebeard.
"Straw Hat Luffy! Leave Ace to me! Don't worry!" Marco shouted, grabbing Ace and flying toward the Moby Dick.
"Let me go, Marco!!" Ace struggled, trying to break free. "You're going to leave Pops alone against the admirals!?"
"Stop talking nonsense, Ace!! That was his decision! The captain's orders are absolute!" Marco responded, resolute as he flew away.
Watching them, Sengoku, still among the ruins of the platform, roared:
"Stop them!!"
"Gurarara!! I won't let you, Sengoku!"
Whitebeard let out a thunderous laugh, swung his arm, and with a deafening impact, sent nearby Marines flying with the force of his quake.
"...Whitebeard!" Sengoku clenched his fists, eyes cold.
Whitebeard's breathing grew heavier. He roared:
"Our objective is complete! There's nothing left for us here!"
"Listen up, Whitebeard Pirates!!"
"Hahahaha... This is the final order of your captain!"
"All of you—return safely!"
With that, he raised his right fist high into the air. Veins bulged across his arm.
The last of his energy was being poured into a blow powerful enough to shake the entire world.
"Go, my sons!! No one will get past me!!"
BOOM!!
Ignoring his injuries, it could be said that this attack consumed even his very life force.
The sky split apart.
Behind Whitebeard, a massive chasm tore through Marineford.
Deep ravines exposed the seething magma below.
"Straw Hat Luffy... you must go too! From the bottom of my heart... thank you!"
Upon hearing that, Luffy smiled.
"Go...? I want to witness the (end of this chapter)."
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."